Lagos Assembly Passes Cremation Bill

Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of report to provide for voluntary cremation of corpses in the state mortuaries.

Presenting the report before the whole committee, Chairman Committee on Health Services, Hon. Suru Avoseh said section (2) of the bill, stipulates that no cremation may take place except in a crematorium established by the Ministry of Health or by any other body upon the recommendation of the right authority approved by the Commissioner for Health.

Avoseh further stressed that the bill is not seeking to cremate all corpses within the state but voluntary cremation for those that are interested and for unclaimed corpses.

Hence the allure to put in place enabling laws to facilitate smooth take-off of crematorium in the state.

The report admonishes the state government to encourage more individuals to go into funeral services through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement as done in LASUTH.

During the presentation of the report, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, enjoined the state government to provide land for those who are not in support of cremation.

“Cremation is not our culture, if government cannot provide land to bury our dead, then it is a shame to humanity.”

Under the Certificate of Coroner of the bill, section 6 states that “a post-mortem examination has been made under section 32 of the births, deaths and burials law cap B3 Laws of Lagos 2003 and the cause of death of the deceased person be certified by the coroner under the provisions of the births, deaths and burials Law cap B3 Laws of Lagos State, 2003.